Melissa Melendez

Melissa Melendez
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 67th district
Assumed office
December 3, 2012
Preceded by Kevin Jeffries (redistricted)
Personal details
Born (1968-02-17) February 17, 1968
Youngstown, Ohio
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Nicholas "Nico" Melendez
Children 5
Residence Lake Elsinore, California
Alma mater

Chaminade University (BA)

University of Phoenix (MBA)
Website MelendezForCA.com

Melissa Melendez is an American politician serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Republican representing the 67th district, encompassing parts of western Riverside County.[1] Prior to being elected to the state assembly, she was a Lake Elsinore City Council member.[2]

Early life

Melendez is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. Upon graduating from high school, she entered the United States Navy. She attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, where she became a fluent Russian language speaker.

While serving in the Navy full-time, Melendez also attended college full-time in the evenings, and received her BA in History and Political Studies from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Career

Melissa became one of the first women approved by the U.S. Navy to fly aboard EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft overseas, conducting reconnaissance and intelligence gathering operations in partnership with our allies.[3] She served as a Russian translator for ten years during the height of the Cold War, and flew covert missions during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.[4]

Post-Navy

After the Navy, Melendez took an academic advisory position at Chaminade University for two years before deciding to begin her own business. She then formed her own transcription company, contracting with the Chief of Naval Operations, and providing services to the Secretary of the Navy as well as other top-level Pentagon officials. Melendez attended the Murrieta Campus for the University of Phoenix to earn her MBA in June 2008. In 2008, Melendez was elected to the Lake Elsinore City Council. She served as Mayor Pro Tem as well as Mayor during her four years in local government.

Personal Life

Melendez has five children with her husband Nico Melendez Angelo, Paolo, Sofia, Rocco, and Carlo. Nico is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served 10 years on active duty. He continues to serve as a Commander in an active naval reserve unit.

Elections

2016 California State Assembly

California's 67th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Melissa Melendez (incumbent) 51,987 63.5
Democratic Jorge Lopez 29,924 36.5
Total votes 81,911 100.0
General election
Republican Melissa Melendez (incumbent) 107,654 63.8
Democratic Jorge Lopez 60,996 36.2
Total votes 168,650 100.0
Republican hold

2014 California State Assembly

California's 67th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Melissa Melendez (incumbent) 32,268 99.8
Democratic Conrad Melton (write-in) 58 0.2
Total votes 32,326 100.0
General election
Republican Melissa Melendez (incumbent) 54,018 68.9
Democratic Conrad Melton 24,386 31.1
Total votes 78,404 100.0
Republican hold

2012 California State Assembly

California's 67th State Assembly district election, 2012
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Paule 11,951 27.7
Republican Melissa Melendez 10,084 23.3
Republican Bob Magee 8,672 20.1
Republican Kenneth C. Dickson 8,216 19.0
Republican William T. Akana 4,291 9.9
Total votes 43,214 100.0
General election
Republican Melissa Melendez 67,232 52.3
Republican Phil Paule 61,230 47.7
Total votes 128,462 100.0
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ "Members". California State Assembly. State of California. 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Melissa Melendez Biography". California State Assembly Republican Caucus. California State Assembly. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Melissa Melendez Bio".
  4. ↑ "Melissa Melendez Bio".
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